The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-08-05
THE TRAVELLING FAMILY.
Its Devastating March in 11'op-
ical Country.


amongst a Spanish-speaking people
who were very rude and even barbur-
Gus in their ways, and who neither
understood my speech, nor my mo-
tiyes for being where l was, that first
heard of the travelling Family
l was living by myself in a little
abode hut, making sketches of the ma
tives and the scenery, and doing my
best to work up an article which
should interest people in that part OF
the country. felt quite sure that
those about me regarded me with
some suspicion, and were not friendly
to me, and l doubted almost every
thing they said, for found them far
from truthful.
sat one evening over my fire, en-
gagged in cooking queer sort of mess
"a sort of stew in which garlic fig.
AIRED largely, bet which did not find
unpalatable-and thinking that was
rather lonely, and that friendly
caller would not be unpleasant, when
a little sound at my door startled me,
and turned to see an old man stand
ing there, dressed in the costume of
the place, and seeming to convey to
me by wave of his hand that his in
tentions were amicable. Having been
so much alone, felt the value of any
token of good feeling, and arose and
invited the old man in.
My mess of pottage being ready, l
begged him to share it; and he con-
sented. After we had finished, he ac-
cepted some cigars l offered him; and
shortly all the long wrinkles in his
mahogany-colored face became curves,
and he was as courteous as a Mexican
can be. He did not speak my lam
guage but knew little of his, and
understood his compliments.
"a good dinner, a fine cigar, a gen.
tleman after his own heart; and this"
he added, lis very comfortable
home. 1t is pity, but come to say
that you must leave it. You must 90
away-oh! right away-and very far
come to tell you. Many said: Let
that man find out for himself but l
would not You must go, for the
Travelling Family is on its way. 1t is
very close at hand. In three days it
will be here. Save yourself and your
possessions while you can. go at
dawn. l have once been where the
Travelling Family visited knoaO %
"The Travelling Family" l cried.
why, who are these people that you
should be afraid of them?''
You do not know the Tra-sling
FamilyP" he asked. ''Well, Lever
make their acquaintance. Go earl7 to-
morrow from this place. They are
coming, and they travel fast 2
He arose and looked at me seriously.
''Ihe gentleman does not believe" !"
he said.
"Oh, yes, \ said; Il believe. am
much obliged for the warning, but / do
not feel afraid Of any travelling family.
! shall stay here
To tell the truth, / simply thought
he was uttering falsehood; that the
people wished me to leave the place,
and that he was their ambassador. He
wanted to frighten me, though what
bugbear the Travelling Family repre-
sented / had no idea.
slept as usual and arose without
anxiety; bat before / was well into my
day York, woman came to my door,
and smiled upon me graciously.
The gentlemen is a stranger" she
said. HE does not know the Travel
ing Family is coming. We are all go
ing. No one dares stay. Go. also on
you will be sorry
thanked her and she went ner
way; but still / did not believe that any
thing was about to happen, until saw
that in very truth my Mexican neigh.
bors we're making preparations for de.
parture. They were pack;n theiI
clothing in curious baskets, suspending
shsir kettles asa pots from long sticks
which they carried between them over
their shoulders. Some loaded their
mules; some went on foot, but all were
going
Was the Travelling Family some
band Of Indiansp" asked myself. .'or
robbers who we're known to have no
mercYp''
AT least I had nothing to steal, and
nAQ Deen ~ snFnfssv is1lAS1o n -
ting into Ss.inculties.